Islam and tea-party activism clashed at a raucous meeting Monday night when a group of Broward County Republicans blocked a Muslim activist as a member of the party’s executive committee.

Republicans, who changed their rules to publicly vet Nezar Hamze and then vote on his application by secret ballot, said they didn’t oppose him because he was a Muslim — but because he is associated with the Center for American-Islamic Relations, whose Washington-area affiliate was an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal terrorism indictment.

Hamze, CAIR’s South Florida director, said his local group had nothing to do with the suspect activities in Washington. He said CAIR advocates for civil rights for Muslims, who have been unfairly targeted ever since 9/11.

“I’m aligned with Republican values. And I want to serve the party,” Hamze said, who earlier told a reporter that any effort to block him was the result of anti-Islamic “bigotry.”

At times, when he addressed the packed room at the Sheraton Suites in Fort Lauderdale, a few members shouted out among the crowd of about 300.

“Terrorist!” said one man.

“Let him speak!” said another.

Members of Broward’s Republican Party said Hamze was making a mockery of their rules and was trying to become a member as a publicity stunt.

“I don’t have a positive impression of Mr. Hamze. I don’t think he will be an asset to our party,” said Scott Spages, who is involved in programs concerning radical Islam at his church, Cavalry Chapel Fort Lauderdale.

In the end, the Broward Republican Executive Committee voted 11-158 to block him from committee membership. He can still attend meetings, but as a general member of the public.

Comments

The Chairman allowed a pack of rabid "Tea Party" sorts - to ask lengthy, leading questions. He allowed them to hurl insults at the guy. He let them put the guy through a litmus test by asking "Do you support Joe Kaufman?" -one of 3 Republicans running in a Primary to replace Debbie Wasserman Schultz, while ignoring the other 2 GOP. Clearly a concerted effort by a few - with collusion from Chairman "Spineless" DeNapoli to humiliate thie one guy. What a disgrace!

Chairman DeNapoli handled the proceedings extremely well. There was a fair vote of the membership and Hamze himself was a teller of the results.

Bob at 8:05? It was a valid question re: Kaufman - BREC REC members are supposed to support the nominee. Hamze has publicly railed against Kaufman for years, and lives in his district...so if Kaufman was the nominee, then this would be a valid question.

So I'd guess you'd rather have the Executive Director of a group named as an unindicted co-conspirator to financing terrorism in the GOP leadership????? Someone who has attacked Allen West??? the really interesting part was how it all came out that Shark Tank encouraged Hamze to join! Typical publicity stunt.

Intelligent and gutsy call. CAIR is the political arm of Hamas, no doubt about it. It was time to show that we are NOT weak! Of course they will make it look like we are all bigots. But you know, they believe that anyway. What is worse is that they believe we are the infidels and so they behave accordingly. So it is said, so it be done! Great vote!!!!

Yeay, real gutsy. Make it obvious you don't want the guy by changing the rules just for him - he was the only one who got a secret ballot. And in the meantime, shout him down, don't let him answer the questions and behave like animals on the hunt. Real leadership there, DeNapoli. If only you had had the B@lls to just stick with the program.

Actuaslly, Manjarres just recommended to Nazir that he join BREC. That is what any GOP activist is suppossed to do. It is hardly his fault if certain members of BREC "packed" to keep the guy from speaking, ket alone joining. It is hardly his fault if the weak Chairman allowed it all to happen in such a disgraceful way. It looked like a kangaroo court.

Wake up 11:29 - Manjarres orchestrated this whole thing and was caught red handed to try to embarrass the BrowardGOP. The chairman abided by the rules which simply state that every new applicant be voted on by a majority of the membership. Everyone voted their conscience and Hamze was allowed to be a teller of the results. Hamze was allowed repeatedly to speak on his own behalf.

Actually the rules were changed dramatically for this meeting. In the past all those wishing to join BREC wold have their names read and the committee would vote on them all together. For the first time ever, the BREC votes last night on each individual applicant. And even worse this ONE and ONLY applicant was voted on by Secret ballot. And that was just so that Chickenstratch Chairman wouldn't have to be the Chairman who let in a Muslim. S NO, THE RULES WERE NOT FOLLOWED AS USUAL, THEY WERE ALL CHANGED

TEA PARTY IDIOTS: You can't stand DeNapoli because he is a divisive weasel. Like the spineless weasel that he is, he didn't want to let in a Muslim, but he didn't have guts to just follow the rules and let the chips fall where they may. No, instead you did his dirty work for him and in the process tainted the whole Tea Party as ignorant bigots.

Give me a break - says in the rules a majority vote. Member motioned for a secret ballot which was fair to all those involved - people could vote their conscience and the results would be known. There was no change in the rules. People got a chance to speak. Rules only say majority vote and that's what happened. Guess you don't like democracy. Quit trying to cover for Manjarres and his BS.

Longtime BREC Member - Maybe you just haven't been a mmeber THAT long after all. In fact the rules were changed for the first time twice:
1) An individual vote rather than a collctive vote; and 2) ONLY ONE candidate was voted upon by a secret ballot. Why? Was somebody afraid of voting on this one candidate in the same manner as on all the others? Why this obsession all of a sudden with the membership rules? Oh yeah, to keep out the Moslem but still keep stench of bigotry off DeNapoli.

Manjarres should stop posting above about DeNapolis and just understand that his gig is up. He got caught red-handed. DeNapolis handled the situation with guts and did it all according to the rules. And what's wrong with having a ballot? Everyone votes their conscience and everyone knows the results. The rules say that "a majority vote is required." Doesn't say you have to vote everyone on together all at once. In fact, questions were asked of other prospective members too and nothing in the rules say you can't ask questions and be informed about someone. It's obvious this was all a publicity stunt...just like Hamze at the Allen West town halls. The committee voted Hamze down fair and square and DeNapolis handled it well under extreme pressure. He should be commended. What did you expect the press to write - of course they want to talk about racism and bigotry in the same sentence as the word Republican.